Scottish First Minister: Glasgow Games 'Too Significant' For Political Interference

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond "dismissed warnings from his predecessor as first minister, Jack McConnell, that this summer's Commonwealth Games could be politicised by the Scottish independence referendum," according to Severin Carrell of the London GUARDIAN. Salmond said that it was "nonsensical" to suggest that "the 2014 Games in Glasgow, staged only eight weeks before the referendum" on Sept. 18, would be "overshadowed by campaigning after McConnell called for a political 'truce' during the Games." Salmond added that the event was "too significant for that to happen." Salmond: "[The Games] are going to be the most enormous success for Scotland. It's right and proper that people will debate politics, but the idea that politics will overshadow the Games is nonsensical." McConnell said that there "ought to be a two-week rest by both campaigns during the Games." McConnell, who said that there was "genuine concern" among competitors, cultural performers and Games officials "about dangers for the event," said, "Campaign relentlessly between now and then, and of course afterwards. But for that two-week period, let's concentrate on Glasgow and Scotland and winning some Gold Medals for Scotland" (GUARDIAN, 1/8).